Steyn leads SA to victory

Man-of-the-match Dale Steyn helped South Africa completed victory by an innings and 193 run victory over New Zealand to secure a 2-0 series win on the fourth day of the second Test at George’s in Port Elizabeth.

Steyn picked up three for 48 as visitors were bowled out for 211 in their second innings, 30 minutes before lunch with the South African quick finishing the match with figures of eight for 65..

New Zealand made a far better showing in their second innings after they were bowled out for just 121 in their first effort.

Dean Brownlie and BJ Watling provided the bulk of New Zealand’s runs thanks to their 97-run fifth wicket partnership. Brownlie brought up his fourth Test fifty but, after making his way to 53, he edged a delivery from seamer Jacques Kallis through to the wicket-keeper.

Watling recorded his second half-century of the match, 63, before becoming the seventh wicket to fall when he was bowled by a superb delivery from Steyn that rocked off-stump.

The introduction of the second new ball proved to be New Zealand’s undoing as Steyn and Morne Morkel (2-36) made mopped up the tail.

Colin Munro (15) followed Brownlie back to the pavilion when the left-hander was caught at third slip off a delivery from Morkel.

Watling followed soon afterwards before Steyn had Doug Bracewell out for a duck, caught at third slip while Morkel had Trent Boult (3) caught at point.

Steyn wrapped the win and the series up by having Neil Wagner caught by De Villiers for four after the batsman edged an attempted hook shot to a well-directed short ball.

Day 3: Watling, Brownlie resist South Africa

New Zealand resisted South Africa’s bowlers late on day three of the second Test at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth, as the home team sought to work their way through the batting line-up.

In a better showing with the bat, after being dismissed for 121 shortly before lunch in their first innings, the visitors closed their follow on innings at 157 for four. Batting first South Africa piled on 525 for eight and hold a strong advantage with New Zealand still trailing by 247 runs with six wickets in hand.

First Test century maker Dean Brownlie remains on 44 not out along with BJ Watling on 41 with the pair putting on a fighting 73 runs stand for the fifth wicket.

Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson collected the two wickets during middle session when he trapped McCullum (11) leg-before to leave New Zealand on 40 for one before he bowled Kane Williamson (11) just before the break with a delivery that kept low.

Martin Guptill was holding the innings together, but when on 48 a Rory Kleinveldt delivery kept low and clipped the top of off-stump. Daniel Flynn was caught behind off the first ball leaving Watling to successfully defend the hat-trick ball.

Watling top scored with 63 in New Zealand’s first inning but they remained 404 runs behind when they were asked to follow on.

The wicket-keeper batsman and Trent Boult (17*) then showed some late fight with a last-wicket stand that produced 59 runs, a New Zealand record 10th-wicket partnership against South Africa beating the 57 stand by Simon Doull and Richard de Groen in Johannesburg during the 1994/95 season.

Dale Steyn picked up the first three wickets of the morning, first getting Doug Bracewell edging for seven while Neil Wagner (LBW) and Jeetan Patel (bowled) both recorded ducks.

Steyn was the best, taking 5-17 off 13 overs, his 19th five-wicket bag in Test cricket.

Day two: SA continue to dominate on day two

Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar made centuries and the South African bowlers took six wickets as the home team continued to dominate day two of the second Test against New Zealand at St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth.

South Africa started the day on 325 for four and lost just one wicket before lunch as Hashim Amla added four runs to his overnight score of 106 when Trent Boult had him caught down the leg-side by wicket keeper BJ Watling.

The middle order batsmen continued the charge with Faf du Plessis going to lunch on 99 with the score on 390 for five before holing out to Colin Munro on 137 in the 137th over.

Munro soon had his second when Robin Peterson was caught at mid-wicket for eight and Dale Steyn made just five with Doug Bracewell having him picked up at cover for five.

Dean Elgar stayed strong, with his captain patiently waiting for him to chalk up his maiden Test ton, and he did so with a firmly struck four down the ground to prompt a declaration as he walked off on 103 not out.

Bracewell finished with the figures of 3-94 in 34 overs, while Munro finished with 2-40 in 18 overs.

New Zealand then made a horror start, with Dale Steyn capturing two wickets inside five overs.

Martin Guptill edged to third slip and Kane Williamson edged (4) to first slip leaving the visitors reeling at eight for two.

Their problems were compounded when Dean Brownlie (10) was caught behind off a cracking short ball by Rory Kleinveldt that caught the glove before flying through to the wicket keeper.

Kleinveldt had his second when an unsuccessful review from Daniel Flynn saw him trapped LBW for a duck.

Spinner, Petersen then got in on the act, picking up two wickets in two balls, first getting Brendon McCullum caught at slip for 13 then having Munro held at short leg.

BJ Watling (15) and Doug Bracewell (3) finished the day on 47 for six with New Zealand trailing by 478 with four wickets in hand.

Day 1: Amla ton puts SA in charge

Hashim Amla scored his 19th Test century to put South Africa in the drivers seat at the end of day one of the second Test at St George’s Park , Port Elizabeth.

After winning the toss and electing to bat the home side reached 325 for four at stumps.

The New Zealand attack created plenty of chances in the first session but South Africa went to lunch at 99 for one after Doug Bracewell struck an early blow to remove Alviro Petersen, caught at fine leg for 21.

New Zealand fought back with two wickets in shortly after lunch before South Africa began to reassert their control, adding 92 further runs to go to tea at 191 for three.

Graeme Smith was caught behind the down the leg side for 54 off the bowling of Neil Wagner while Bracewell edged out Jacques Kallis for eight.

Amla and AB de Villiers steadied, then accelerated with an 86 runs stand and it wasn’t until the 62nd over that the partnership was broken.

At 223 for four Jeetan Patel sent down a flat delivery that de Villiers (51) stuck straight to mid-wicket but Faf du Plessis picked up where he left off and will resume tomorrow on 69 not out.

Amla ended the day unbeaten on 106 off 211 balls with eight fours, having brought up his 19th test ton off 187 deliveries.

The top ranked batsman came to the crease early and shared in two half-century partnerships and an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 102 off 28.5 overs with du Plessis.

There was just one blemish during Amla’s innings when, with his score on 48, he was dropped in the gully by Kane Williamson off the bowling of left-arm seamer Trent Boult.